WHITE, Kenneth Joseph
NAME WHITE Kenneth Joseph
RANK Trooper 58842
I Canadian Corps - 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade REGIMENT 14th Armoured Regiment - Calgary Regiment "onward" Royal Canadian Armoured Corp Residence Ailsa Craig - Ontario Born August 4, 1920 - Stephen Township - County of Huron - Ontario Died May 26, 1944 23 years 8 months
Cemetery Cassino War Cemetery - Cassino - Cassino - Frosinone - Italy
V F 18 Father Mr. Joseph White - Crediton - Ontario Brother Mr. Thomas White - Exeter - Ontario
Sisters Miss Margaret White - Crediton -Ontario Miss Kathleen White - Windsor - Ontario
Kenneth was born on August 4, 1920 and at some point the family lived in Brinsley which was located in McGillvary Township - County of Middlesex where he took his public schooling. He left school at the age of 13 following the completion of Grade VIII. It seems the family then moved to Crediton - Ontario. He was raised Roman Catholic and would have attended Saint Patrick's Catholic Church. He lived at Ailsa Craig prior to enlistment and was employed as a labourer for Robert Lyle of St. Thomas.
Canada
He enlisted into the Canadian Army in London on December 1, 1941 and goes to No.1 District Depot in London. When he enlisted he stood 5' 2" tall and weighed135 pounds. He had a ruddy complexion with brown eyes and hair. On January 9, 1941 he is posted to No. 10 Basic Training Centre in Kitchener. On March 28 he is posted to No. 10 Advanced Infantry Training Centre at Camp Borden and is on course and while there qualifies as a Basic Training Instructor. Then it is back to Kitchener and he receives furlough from mid June to the end of the month. On August 8 he is Taken on Strength at NO. A8 Canadian Armoured Corp Training Centre. In 1942 on August 12 he is attached to the Active Service Canadian Armoured Corp Advanced Training Centre at Camp Borden. He then receives his embarkation Leave between September 11-16. On October 29 Trooper White qualified as a Tank Gunner Class I. On November 18 he qualifies as a Driver Class III for wheeled vehicles.
Overseas
He is Struck off Service of the Canadian Army in Canada on December 11 and embarks from Halifax for overseas. The next day he is Taken on Service with the Canadian Army Overseas. He disembarked in the United Kingdom on December 18 and then goes to No. 3 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit. During the last week of January 1943 he received leave. On May 20 he qualified as a tank gunner and operator "C" and a week later he is Taken on Service at the Headquarters of the 1st Army Tank Brigade.
Mediterranean Theatre
A month later on June 22 Trooper White is Struck off Service of the Canadian Army UK. The following day he is Taken on Service with the Canadian Army in the Mediterranean Theatre. They arrive in Sicily on July 13. On October 5 he qualifies as a Tank Gunner Operator "B". As the fighting continued in 1944 in Italy Trooper White on March 2 is posted to the Reinforcement List "D" Section ("B" Squadron Tank Delivery Regiment). On April 11 it is over to "D" Section of the Canadian Armoured Corps "A" Squadron. On that same day he is attached to the 11th Canadian Armoured Regiment - The Ontario Regiment. On May 25 he is Taken on Strength with the 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment - The Calgary Regiment. The following day he loses his life on the battlefield.
From December of 1943 until April of 1944 static positions were held in the Lanciano area by the 1st
Canadian Armoured Brigade. The mud had taken over the pace of the war and it was wet and it was
miserable. During this period infantry combined tank training was carried out with the 8th Indian Division.
On the first of April they were concentrated in the Volturno Valley and continued with the training until
May 10th.
On May 11th, preceded by the greatest artillery barrage since Alemein, the Calgary Regiment still supported
the Indians and they advanced to Pignatro on the left of Cassino. The Regiment then went to Acquino and
then, in a pursuit role without infantry proceeded to the Melfa River.
Trooper White would be the only man to lose his life this day May 26th with the Calgary Regiment. He was a tank driver / gunner. At 02:00 hours there was very little shelling and the enemy snipers were also quiet. The weather for this day would be warm temperatures and bright. At 08:00 it was found that during the night the German paratroopers had left. About 09:30 hours the 1st Hussars had started their advance and were to pass through the Calgary Regiment and then cross the Melfa River. Close to midday the Calgary Regiment was to begin to move less one squadron and meet up with 36 Brigade and were to mop up a pocket of resistance across the Melfa River and north of Highway 6. At 12:15 hours “C” Squadron begins to move across the river in support of 56 Recce. At 14:00 hours the rest of the Regiment moved forward and they are to form a firm line between Ceprano and Arce. At 15:00 hours “C” Squadron reported that there was no resistance and that the mopping up was complete. Then later in the afternoon the Germans brought down artillery fire and it was at this point that Trooper White who was in “A” Squadron was fatally wounded and lost his life. Trooper was originally buried at Rocaesecca.
His sister Margaret received the Memorial Cross on behalf of the family. On October 26, 1949 Trooper White was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the Italy Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal + clasp. On June 23, 1950 his sister Margaret received the Memorial Cross.
Kenneth is honoured and remembered on the Exeter Cenotaph. He is honoured and remembered on the Virtual Canadian War Memorial. He is honoured and remembered in the Calgary Highlanders Museum in Calgary - Alberta. He may be honoured on the Memorial Plaque of Saint Patrick's Catholic Church. He is honoured and remembered at the Cassino War Cemetery.
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